Colic Newborn

It has been found that in nursing mothers who drink cow's milk, a small amount of the protein in cow's milk shows up in the breast milk. Physicians who believe that infant colic syndrome is caused by cow's milk protein allergy oint to this as the source of the problem in colicky infants who are breast-fed. These doctors treat infant colic syndrome by putting the mothers on a milk-free diet. Three studies in the pediatric literature have measured the effectiveness of this approach. One study showed no benefit whatsover. Two studies showed an improvement in 35 percent of the cases. Again, however, these studies included babies with vomiting and diarrhea, rendering the results invalid as a measure of allergy in healthy babies. My own studies contradict the notion that restricting milk or any other substance in the mother's diet reduces crying in colicky infants.

Manipulating the diet of a nursing mother is not only of no benefit; it can be hazardous as well. Successful breast-feeding depends on a well-nourished mother. and fooling around with the mother's diet can affect the nutrition of both baby and mother.

Caffeine, however, is an exception to my rule. I urge nursing mothers to eat what they wish but to eliminate caffeine from their diets. Caffeine consumed by nursing mothers does enter breast milk in very small amounts. Most physicians do not feel that this amount is large enough to harm the breast-feeding infant, but because some adults are very sensitive to the effects of this drug. I assume that some babies are, too. In a baby with a heightened sensitivity to caffeine, even a small amount of the substance might produce irritability